By Onome Oghenetega
The Delta State Government has converted the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, the state capital, to an isolation centre as the state continue to record more cases of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delta has recorded 112 confirmed cases of COVID-19 of which the state capital has had the highest number of the disease.
The state government said a 70-bed isolation centre was built at the Stephen Keshi Stadium as the government was already running out of bed space to treat positive cases.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Chiedu Ebie, who led government functionaries including the Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, on inspection tour of the facility on Tuesday, said the 70-bed isolation centre is to demonstrate government readiness in the event that the cases continue to increase.
Ebie noted that aside the Stephen Keshi Stadium, the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration is building more isolation centres across the state to ensure speedy treatment of patients in the state.
He disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in conjunction with Agip and other partners built the isolation centre at the stadium.
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“Our resolve is to provide isolation facilities across the state and this project was started about four weeks ago and will be put into use any moment from now as almost all the equipment needed are in place.
“With the manner with which the virus is spreading, government cannot handle it alone and corporate organisations and well meaning individuals have come to render assistance, NNPC/Agip came together and galvanised other oil companies to provide these facilities.
“Deltans can be safer if they obey established health protocols because, it is our prayers not to have more patients in the State and for those in the isolation centres to get well and be discharged,” Mr Ebie said.
In his contributions, Dr Ononye disclosed that the isolation centre has comprehensive health facilities, including accommodation for the patients and care givers.
He stated that COVID-19 was not a death sentence, especially with early detection, disclosing that the deaths so far recorded in the state was as a result of the victims having prevailing health challenges that were compounded by COVID-19.
The Commissioner stated that with early detection, the state has the expertise and facilities to manage the patients.
